Mobile load handling machines

ABSTRACT

A mobile load handling machine primarily in the form of a crane is provided in which a jib is pivotally mounted from the machine chassis on upstanding mutually inclined linkage which interconnects front and rear wheeled portions of the machine chassis, which chassis portions are movable relative to one another along the fore and aft axis of the machine while ram means and tie linkage are pivotally connected between a mounting member movable in a fore and aft direction on one of the chassis portions and the jib whereby on extension and retraction of the ram means it operates in conjunction with the tie linkage to effect raising and lowering luffing movement of the jib and also operates in conjunction with the mutually inclined linkage to effect relative retraction of the chassis portions to reduce the wheel base of the machine on raising of the jib and vice versa.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 4 3,856,149

Shaw Dec. 24, 1974 MOBILE LOAD HANDLING MACHINES [75] Inventor: DonaldGeorge Shaw, Albrighton, Primary Examiner Robert Sheridan EnglandAssistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Oresky Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Watson,Cole, Grindle and [73] Assignee: Shaw, Trew & Smith Limited, W

' Shifnal, England 1 [22] Filed: June 6, 1973 ABSTRACT A mobile loadhandling machine primarily in the form [21] Appl' 367373 of a crane isprovided in which a jib is pivotally mounted from the machine chassis onupstanding mu- 5- 130/792 tually inclined linkage which interconnectsfront and 280/34 R rear wheeled portions of the machine chassis, which[51] Int. Cl 862d 5/06 chassis portions are movable relative to oneanother [53] F eld Of Sea ch 1212/38, 17, 59, 124, 140, along the foreand aft axis of the machine while ram 212/145, 141, 6, 10; 214/75 H,141, means and tie linkage are pivotallyconnected between 131-138, 148,672; 280/34 R; 180/792 R a mounting member movable in a fore and aftdirection on one of the chassis portions and the jib whereby [56]References Cited on extension and retraction of the ram means it oper-UNITED STATES PATENTS ates in conjunction with the tie linkage to effectrais- 3 257,013 6/1966 Arnold 214 131 ing and lowering/"fling movementof the jib 3 also 31504315 4 1970 De Bona 214/672 Operates inconlunctio" with the mutually mclmed 3,633,702 1/1972 Shaw linkage toeffect relative retraction of the chassis por- 3,670,910 6/1972 Shaw280/34 R tions to reduce the wheel base of the machine on rais- FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 8/1964 Netherlands 212/33 ing of the jib andvice versa.

' 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 MOBILE LOAD HANDLING MACHINES The objectof this invention is to provide an improved load handling machineprimarily in the form of a crane for carrying out a variety of loadhandling operations. Practical advantages of the invention in this andvarious other respects and also constructional features will be apparentfrom the following disclosure.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the machine or crane with the jib or boomlowered.

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on the line II II of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a detail plan view of the front wheel steering and inturningmechanism FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the machine withthe jib or boom raised and the chassis retracted and FIG. 5 is adiagrammatic elevation showing the machine provided with a fork liftattachment.

The chassis 1 comprises forward and rearward portions 2, 3 respectivelycarrying the front and rear wheels 4, 5, which portions 2, 3 arerelatively movable or slidable in a fore and aft direction for obtainingvariation in the distance apart or wheel base of the front and rearwheels 4, 5. Thus a rearwardly extending member or beam 30 from theforward chassis portion 2 slidably engages the rearward portion 3between guide rollers 31 in the latter (see FIG. 2)

The beam 30 has a swivel mounting about the fore and aft axis at 35 withthe forward chassis portion 2 to permit relative articulation oroscillation of the chassis portions 2, 3 about said axis when travellingover uneven ground.

A telescopic jib or boom is pivotally connected by means of tie linkage6 to a mounting member or cardicatedat Conversely on extension of therams 8 the links l2, 13 are moved towards one another and likewise thechassis portions 2, 3 for reducing the wheelbase i.e., as the jib 10 israised or luffed to the inclined position.

In addition to such action of varying the wheelbase with jib movement inthe interest of greater stability of 1 the vehicle according to theattitude of the jib 10,the linkage 12, 13, 14 supports the pivotallymounted jib 10 in relation to the chassis portions 2, 3. Furthermore theupright arrangement of the rams 8 and tie linkage 6 results in rapidoperation of the jib 10 being obtainablefrom the horizontal to thealmost upright position and vice versa.

The main body 10a of the jib 10 is shown provided with a winch 11 at itsrear end which is preferably a hydraulic motor driven atlla rope 16 fromthe winch 11 passing forwardly to a pulley 17 at the head 10d of the jibextension 10b from where the rope 16 passes about the pulley 19 of apulley block or hook 39 and then rearwardly about a further head pulley18 to an anchorage 16a at the rear end of the jib extension 10b. Thearrangement is such that as the jib 10 is extended or retracted,compensation of the effective length of the rope 16 is obtained so that.the position of the pulley block 39 in relation to the jib head 10dremains substantially unaltered during jib extension or retraction whichthus does not effect the operation of the pulley block by the winch 11.The ram 100 operates the jib 10 riage 7 longitudinally movable relativeto the rearward I Connectedto the jib 10 at preferably the pivotalconnection 9 of the rams 8 thereto are a pair of mutually inclined linksl2, 13 which are pivotally connected at their lower ends at 32, 33 torespective chassis portions 2, 3. Further mutually inclined links 14 arepivotally connected from mid points or thereabouts at 34 of the firstmentioned links l2, 13 to a common pivotal connection 15 with thecarriage 7 in order to stabilise the latter. Such linkage is duplicatedat each side of the vehicle, (see FIG. 2) and as shown in FIG. 1 thelinks 12, 13, 14 define a parallelogrammic link formation with the rams8 acting substantially diagonally in relation to said formation.

The carriage 7 is shown movable by rollers 37 in guideways 36 in therear chassis portion 3.

On retraction of the rams 8 the action of the links 12, 13 is to thrustthe chassis portions 2, 3 away from one another in order to increase thewheelbase of the front and rear wheels 4, 5 to the maximum conditionshown, the fully retracted position of the front wheels being inforextension as indicated at 10c. (FIG. 4).

For travelling movement of the vehicle, the front wheels 4 are showndriven by hydraulic wheel motors 49 and the front wheels 4 arein-tumable for obtaining swivelling movement of the vehicle for jibslewing about a turn table or other pivotal mounting at the rear wheels5, preferably by differential swivel mechanism as set forth in BritishPat. No. l,297,l l3, commonly owned herewith.

Referring to FIG. 3', steering of the front wheels 4 for travellingpurposes is shown effected by a 'pair of hydraulic rams 40 acting fromfixed structure of the forward chassis portion 2 on one end 43 of adouble armed lever 41 pivotally mounted at 42, the other end of thelever 41 being pivotally connected at 44 to and between a pair ofhydraulic rams 45 pivotally connected at 46 to'swivel or king pinmounting 48 of the front wheel stub axles on the front axle beam-47.

Appropriate operation of the rams 40 effects steering movement of thewheels 4, the rams 45 remaining inoperative and serving as a track rod.However when intuming of the'front wheels 4 is required as at 4b, therams 40 remain inoperative to lock the lever 41 from which the rams 45extend to effect in-turning of the wheels 4 about the king pin mounting48.

An internal combustion engine (not shown) is conveniently carried by theforward chassis portion 2 for driving one or more pumps in supplyinghydraulic fluid can be such that it enables unhindered operation of afork lift'unit 20 (FIG. 5) to be effected at the forward end of thevehicle in the manner indicated at 20a, the

unit 20 being pivotally carried at 21 at the front end of the forwardchassis portion 2 for back and forth angular movement by ram operation26 in engaging the forks 22 with a load and lifting the latter.Conversely when the fork lift attachment is retracted to its minimumheight unhindered operation of the jib 10 is possible including forwardtelescopic extension in the horizontal position During operation of thejib 10 the forks 22 may be swung back to an inoperative position abouttransverse pivotal mounting 23 against the column 24 of the attachment.The fork lift unit 20 may be operated in any known or suitable manner.

With the jib 10 in the horizontal position shown the chassis 1 is fullyextended for maximum wheelbase and stability of the vehicle foroperation of the fork lift unit 20.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing the machine as shown in FIG.is capable of carrying out a wide variety of load handling operations byappropriate operation of the crane jib and/or the fork lift unit eitherseparately or in conjunction with one 'another.

I claim:

1. A mobile load handling machine, comprising: a.

chassis having front and rear wheeled portions movable relative to oneanother along the fore and aft axis of the machine; upstanding mutuallyinclined linkage pivotally interconnecting said chassis portions; a jibsupported by said linkage from the chassis portions; a mounting membermovable in a fore and aft direction on one of the chassis portions; tielinkage pivotally connected between said mounting member and the jib;and ram means pivotally connected between the mounting member and thejib whereby, on extension and retraction of the ram means, said rammeans operates in conjunction with the tie linkage to effect raising andlowering luffmg movement of the jib and also operates in conjunctionwith the mutually inclined linkage to effect relative retraction of thechassis portions to reduce the wheel base of the machine on raising ofthe jib and vice versa. v

2. A mobile load handling machine according to claim 1 wherein the rammeans and mutually inclined linkage are pivotally connected to the jibabout a common axis.

3. A mobile load handling machine according to claim 1 wherein themutually inclined linkage is linked to the mounting member in order tostabilise the latter and the ram means and tie linkage in relation tothe mutually inclined linkage.

4. A mobile load handling machine according to claim 3 wherein themutually inclined linkage and the linking thereof to the mounting memberdefine a parallelogrammic link formation with the ram means actingsubstantially diagonally in relation to said formation.

5. A mobile load handling machine according to claim -1 wherein one ofthe said chassis portions is provided with a longitudinal memberslidably engaging the other chassis portion, said member having a swivelconnection with the first mentioned chassis portion about the fore andaft axis of the machine to permit relative oscillation of the chassisportions about said axis.

6. A mobile load handling machine according to claim 1 wherein there isprovided in combination with the machine fork lift means mounted at thefront of the front chassis portion and operable separately or inconjunction with the jib.

purpose of operation of the jib.

1. A mobile load handling machine, comprising: a chassis having frontand rear wheeled portions movable relative to one another along the foreand aft axis of the machine; upstanding mutually inclined linkagepivotally interconnecting said chassis portions; a jib supported by saidlinkage from the chassis portions; a mounting member movable in a foreand aft direction on one of the chassis portions; tie linkage pivotallyconnected between said mounting member and the jib; and ram meanspivotally connected between the mounting member and the jib whereby, onextension and retraction of the ram means, said ram means operates inconjunction with the tie linkage to effect raising and lowering luffingmovement of the jib and also operates in conjunction with the mutuallyinclined linkage to effect relative retraction of the chassis portionsto reduce the wheel base of the machine on raising of the jib and viceversa.
 2. A mobile load handling machine according to claim 1 whereinthe ram means and mutually inclined linkage are pivotally connected tothe jib about a common axis.
 3. A mobile load handling machine accordingto claim 1 wherein the mutually inclined linkage is linked to themounting member in order to stabilise the latter and the ram means andtie linkage in relation to the mutually inclined linkage.
 4. A mobileload handling machine according to claim 3 wherein the mutually inclinedlinkage and the linking thereof to the mounting member define aparallelogrammic link formation with the ram means acting substantiallydiagonally in relation to said formation.
 5. A mobile load handlingmachine according to claim 1 wherein one of the said chassis portions isprovided with a longitudinal member slidably engaging the other chassisportion, said member having a swivel connection with the first mentionedchassis portion about the fore and aft axis of the machine to permitrelative oscillation of the chassis portions about said axis.
 6. Amobile load handling machine according to claim 1 wherein there isprovided in combination with the machine fork lift means mounted at thefront of the front chassis portion and operable separately or inconjunction with the jib.
 7. A mobile load handling machine according toclaim 6 wherein forks of the fork lift means are pivotally mounted fromthe latter whereby they may be swung back to an inoperative positionespecially for the purpose of operation of the jib.